EHR Sharing

Definition ∞ EHR Sharing refers to the secure electronic exchange of patient health records among authorized healthcare providers. This process enables different medical institutions to access and update a patient’s electronic health records, facilitating coordinated care and improving treatment outcomes. Blockchain technology offers a promising solution for secure and transparent EHR sharing by creating an immutable audit trail and verifiable access controls. It addresses concerns regarding data fragmentation, privacy, and interoperability within the healthcare sector.
Context ∞ The application of blockchain for EHR sharing is a frequent topic in health tech and crypto news, addressing long-standing issues of data security and patient data portability. Pilot programs and new platforms aim to demonstrate the efficacy of decentralized solutions for medical record management. Regulatory frameworks for health data privacy, such as HIPAA, heavily influence the design and adoption of blockchain-based EHR systems.